Treatment or production of seamless metal tubes or billets.



7 W. DICKS. TREATMENT 0R PRODUCTION OF SEAMLESS METAL TUBES R BILLETS.

' APPLICATION FlhED DEC-2L 1910. 1,177,397.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l- W. DICKS.

TREATMENT 0R PRODUCTION OF SEAMLESS METAL TUBES 0R BILLETS. APPLICATION FILED 050.27, 1910.

Patent-( ed Mar. 28, 1916.

'4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WLDICKS. TREATMENT 0R PRODUCTION OF SEAMLESS METAL TUBES 0R BILLETS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-27, 1910.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. DICKS. TREATMENT 0R PRODUCTION OF SEAMLESS METAL TUBES 0R BILLETS.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC.27 1910. 1,177,397.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WILLIAM DICKS, OF DUMBARTON, SCOTLAND.

TREATMENT OR PRODUCTIQN' flier I397.

Specification of Letters Patent.

OF SEAMLESS METAZL 0B, e

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

' Application filed December 27, 1910. Serial No. 599,4 1.

To all whom it may concern:

Be 'it known that 1, WILLIAM Drone, a subject of the King'of Grreat Britain, residing at Dumbarton, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Treatment or Production of Seamless Metal Tubes or Billets, of which the following is a specification.

Thi invention relates to the treatment or production of seamless metal tubes, from solid billets or from hollow billets, and also to. the treatment or production of rods from billets.

The invention refers to that class of apparatus wherein the working surfaces of disks, roll or the like which act upon the billet or work are provided with one or more series of spirally arranged grooves and ridges which act upon the surface metal-of the workpiece and feed it or move it relatively to the remaining portion of the metal of the workpiece. r Hitherto such disks or rolls of such mills have been located to form a pass converging in the direction of travel of the workpiece, and these mill have been used for the production, or reduction of a tubefrom a hollow billet, by reducing the thickness of the walls of the workpiece, with'or without a reduction in the diameter of the workpiece and the spiral grooves and ridges have acted to feed back or retard the flow of the surface metal of the workpiece. Now according to the present in vention, the reducing or acting surfaces, each comprising grooves and ridges such as described in the said specification, are so dis osed on the working faces forming the walls of a diverging pass that when the rolling device rotates they act to accelerate the feed or fiow of the outer or surface metal of the portion of the workpiece under treatment, or the ridges and grooves upon one part of the working surface ofthe rolling devices forming the walls of a converging part of the pass are disposed so as to retard the feed and the ridges and grooves on the faces forming the walls of a diverging part of the pass are disposed so as to accelerate the feed of the surface metal. also ridges and grooves which retard the How or feed back the metal are em loyed as hereinafter described. The disposit on and direction of rotation-of the rolling devices depend up n, the c ass of mill and the operation to be effccted. as does the angle or disposition of the working face of the rolling device with relation to the. axisof rotation, and the construction and disposition'of the piercing or supporting mandrel. The ridges and grooves may be so arranged as to act upon the workpiece either when it first enters the pass or when it has traveled beyond the axis of the rolling device. Allthe ridges or grooves have "their initial points situated on a circle concentric with the axis of rotation of the' rolling device and this circle may be the edge of the working face of the rolling device'or the edge of a flat or finishing part. Similarly all the ridges and grooves terminate injanother circle concentric with the axis of the disk, the circle being the edge of the working face,the edge of a finishing surface, or a circle forming the initial points of a second working face also formed of series of ridges and grooves as hereinafter described. The grooves and ridges are so arranged and proportioned that in their action upon the workpiece they act either by the convex or by the concave surfaces.- They are disposed eccentrically or spirally around the working surfaces of the rolling devices, their action upon the workpiece being more a stretching action in a longitudinal direction than a process of reducing by circumferential rolling. -In all cases whether the ridges and grooves are arranged to accelerate or feed forward, retard, or accelerate and retard or feed back the surface metal, the arrangement and effect are such that the metal is not crowded into the pass between the rolling devices, tending thereby to upset the workpiece; but is, according to the present invention, caused to flow evenly and smoothly and all the grooves and ridges act successively on the portion of the workpiece under treatment so that a tube with walls of, or a rod of, uniform thickness, and untwisted fibers is produced and the workpiece is under complete corliilzrol throughout its passage through the m1 x 4 Referring to the accompanying draw- 1ngs:Fignre 1 is, a sectional plan on the line 11 of Fig. 3 of an apparatus or mill comprising two opposed rotary rolling devices, in the form of disks, each provided with two series of grooves and ridges according to the present invention the work ing faces of the disks being so formed that one pair of the opposed faces or parts on the two disks form the walls of aconverging pass and the other pair form a diverging r opposed surfaces a form the Opposite walls pass, the ridges and grooves. on the walls of the converging part of the pass being adapted when the disks rotate to retard the flow of the metal and those on the'walls of grooves similar to Figs. 1 and'2 but arranged for the billet or workpiece to enter the opposite end of the pass. Fig.5 is face view of a disk having one series of ridges and grooves arranged to accelerate the fiow of the surface metal and the working face on which these are formed arranged to form a converging pass. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a face view of a disk similar to Fig. 5 but with the grooves and ridges arranged on a working face of the disk at the oppositeend of the pass to those of Fig. 5. Figs. 8 and 9.are front elevation and plan respectively showing a modified arrangement of the relative positions of the disks. Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are respectively side elevation, end elevation, and plan, showing an embodiment of. the invention applied to rolls. Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the disk shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The same letters of reference are employed throughout the drawings to denote the same or similar parts or features.

A and A are the rotary rolling devices, A are the retarding ridges and grooves and A are the accelerating ridges and grooves; B the piercing or other mandrel and C is the billet, or workpiece.

Referring first of all to the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 3 which illustrate an embodiment of the invention'for piercing a solid billet and subsequently reducing the walls of the pierced billet to form a tube, according to this embodiment the disks A A are provided with two adjoining working or acting surfaces at a and the arrangement and disposition are such that the workpiece is engaged by these surfaces successively after it has passed beyond the center or axis of rotation of the disks. The first pair of of the converging part of the pass and are each provided with grooves and ridges A which retard or feed back the surface metal of the part of the billet C engaged by them and the second or outer pair of opposedsurtends as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 from a circleminal point of a groove and ridge of the series A. The piercing mandrel B which, when the billet after piercing is reduced, is

conveniently carried by a mandrel B sup? porting the billet while being reduced, is situated so that the point thereof is at or Each groove and ridge of the series about the junction of the two working sur- I faces or at or about the junction of the con-.- verging and diverging parts of the pass and the billet is supported by guides E E such as are commonly employed for supporting,

and guiding a billet. By the systemof grooves and ridges which I propose using, this circumferential rolling, is changed to a rolling process whereby a stretching action is effected in the longitudinal direction. of the workpiece, and thereby the diameter of the ingot is reduced in such a manner that I no subsequent expansion takes place after the material has passed over the piercing point.

the grooves and ridges pass over the same part ofthe billet-a number of times. Further, twist ofthe fibers is minimized or eliminated, overcrowding of the metal into.

By. this arrangement the metal .isgently coaxed over the piercing point since the pass is avoided, therefore undesired ex- 1 panding or enlar ing of the diameter of the tube is prevente andv no bursting of the walls can take place. As the workpiece enters the pass into which it is drawn by the initial gripping surfaces, each being a narrow flat face w turned on the disks, working parallel or nearly so, with the axis of the billet, the grooves and ridges attack the workpiece in such a manner that there is formed on the outer surfacethereof a successlon of screw-like formations and as the workpiece continues to advance into the pass with the known helical motion, the ,pitch of the screw or thread-like formations formed on the outer surface of the workpiece is continuously varied and the depth of the screw or thread is simultaneously decreased till the end of the bite is reached where the screw or thread formations disappear. During the formation of the screw or thread -.on the outerv surface of the billet by the back cam like action of the ridges and grooves'the' outer surface of the billet to a depth about equal to the depth of groove is retarded in its passage in relation to the body of the billet and by this means overcrowding at the end of the bite is prevented. When the material of the billet has advanced as far as the end of the bite it encounters the piercing pointand at this point it is advantageous to accelerate the passage of the now hollow billet through the pass to prevent expansion ,of the material-and bursting of the walls of the billet where a flaw in the 'metal appears; thisaccelerationof the passage of-the material is accomplished by the grooves and ridges on the outlet or rounding up side of the bite in such a manner that the grooves and ridges form with those on the inlet side a wedge whose action on the workpiece is such as to push back or retard the flow of the surface metal on the bite side and to push forward the surface metal on the outlet or rounding up face and thus a double stretching action is obtained, and a considerable reduction of the pressure on the piercing point. Each groove and ridge may be carried around the surface of the disk once or more. Between the outer edge of the second or accelerating series of ridges and grooves A and the outer edge of the disk is situated a finishing or smoothing surface a. which can be parallel or nearly so with the axis of the billet and at the inlet end of the pass there are provided conveniently, similar initial gripping surfaces a". The disks A and A rotate in opposite directions and the initial feed is imparted to the billet or workpiece C by the known method of arranging the disks so that their axes are situated in.

different planes as shown in Fig. 3.

The arrangement shown in'Figs. 1 to '3, in addition to being-employed as described for producing a tube of required dimensions in one operation, may also be employed for producing a hollow billet from a solid one..

It can also be used for expanding the diameter of tubes, and reducing the thickness of the walls of tubes or pierced billets.

Instead of arranging the working surfaces-and disposing the disks so that the billet is first engaged at the inner side of the pass as in the arrangement according to Figs. 1 to 3, these may be so arranged and disposed that the billet is engaged at the outer edges of the disks or end of the pass as shown in Fig. 1. In this case the surface a having the retarding ridges and grooves A is situated at the outer edge of the disk and the surface a having the accelerating grooves and ridges A between a and the center of the disk. The surfaces are arranged however as in the previous example so that the grooves and ridges for retard ing are on the surfaces forming the walls of the converging part of the pass and the accelerating grooves and ridges on the surface forming the walls of the diverging part of the pass.

The grooves and ridges for retarding the flow of the surface metal as shown in Figs. 1- to 3may be dispensed with, the walls of the converging part of the pass being left shown at Fig. 4, where the accelerating" grooves and ridges are at the. inner side of the working surfaces, the retarding grooves. and ridges at the outer side of the disks may be dispensed with, the walls of the converging part of the pass being left smooth as shown in Fig. 7.

The arrangements shown in Fig. 4 and in Figs. 5 and 6 may be employed for the same purposes as stated with regard to the arrangements in Figs. 1 to 3.

, The modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9 refers to the'disposition of the disks only to obtain the feed of the billet as a whole, as disks having working surfaces according to any of the above described arrangements may be employed, the pass having converging and diverging parts as already described. As shown in these two figures, the axes of both disks are situated in the same horizontal plane and the longitudinal aXes of the billet and mandrel are disposed below the axes of both disks. This arrangement can be employed for any of the purposes described with reference to the previously described arrangements. f

The arrangement or disposition of the disks themselves is independent of the ridges and grooves forming vthe essential feature of the present invention. When forming these grooves and ridges the purpose for which the disk are to be employed and the manner in which they are to be disposed must be considered and in all cases the grooves and ridges, as already stated, are so arranged that where the disks present for the traverse of the workpiece a converging pass the grooves and ridges retard the flow (if or feed back the surface metal and where the pass presentedis a diverging one the grooves and ridges hasten or accelerate the flow, thev action in all cases being gradual and evenly distributed due to the fact that a number of grooves and ridges act in succession upon the portionof the workpiece under treatment. I Y

- In place of disks, cylindrical rolling de- "vices or rolls may be employed 'as shown in and the'grooves and ridges upon the diverging part produce an accelerating action. When using rolls the retarding series of grooves and ridges'may be omitted or replaced, as above stated, by a plain or smooth surface oppositely inclined or arranged to Figs. 1 to-3.

provide a feeding action to the workpiece. As shown in Fig. 11 the work piece may as is customary be supported by guides E.

Where rolls such as describedare employed they may be employed for any iof the pure poses as already described with reference to The grooves and ridges each vary in depth throughout their entire length or they may vary in pitch, or they may vary both in pitch and depth. Preferably the grooves and ridges are. shallow at their initial and final ends, as shown in Fig. 13, the deepest part being in the middle of their length but this may be varied according to require,

ments. I

Having now described my invention .what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentlis 1. In an apparatus or mill for the treat- 'ment or production of seamless metal tubes or billets the combination of opposed rotary rolling devices having working surfaces forming a pass which converges at the initial or entrance end and diverges at the exit end, whereby the workpiece is fed into and through the pass, the portions of said working surfaces forming the converging part of the pass being adapted to act continuously on the part of a workpiece'under treatment and-t0 force back the surface metal of said part in opposition to the normal feed,

of the workpieces and the portions of said working surfaces forming the diverging part of the pass being adapted for feeding forward or accelerating the flow of the surface metal of the part of the workpiece under treatment relatively to the normal part of the pass adapted to act on the sur-' face metal of a workpiece to retard the flow of or feed back said surface metal in opposition to the normal feed of the workpiece, and means on the working surfaces of the devices forming the walls of the diverging portionof the pass adapted to accelerate the forward flow of the surface metal of the workpiece relatively to the normal feed of the workpiece.

3. In. an apparatus or mill for the treatment or production of a seamless metal tube or billet, the combination of opposed rotary rolling devices having working surfaces forming a pass which first converges and then diverges, a mandrel located in the pass, means on the working surfaces of the devices forming the walls of the converging vices forming the walls of the diverging part of the pass adapted to accelerate the How of the surface metal of the workpiece relativelyto the bodily feed of the workpiece under the normal feeding means, and initial gripping surfaces on the rotaryrolling devices.

4. In an apparatus or mill for the treatment or production of a seamless metal tube or billet, the combination of opposed rotary rolling devices, furnished "with working surfaces and located to form a diverging pass for the workpiece, and means on the working surfaces of the devices for accel.er-- ating the forward flow of the surface metal of a workpiece relatively to the bodily feed of the workpiece.

5. In an apparatus or mill for the treatment or production of a seamless metal tube or billet, the combination of opposed rotary rolling devices, furnished with working surfaces and arrangedand located to form a pass which first converges and then diverges, and means on the surfaces of the devices forming the diverging part of the pass adapted to act upon a workpiece and atcelerate the forward flow of the surface metal thereof relatively to the bodily feed of the workpiece.

6. In an apparatus or mill for the production or treatment of a seamless metal tube, the combination of opposed rotary rolling devices, having working surfaces forming a pass which first converges from the inlet toward the outlet end and then diverges toward the exit, a plurality of ridges and grooves arranged spirally on the surfaces of the devices forming the. converging part of the pass to act on a workpiece and feed back or retard the fiow of the surfacemetal thereof in opposition to the bodily feed of the'work piece,and. a plurality of spiral ridges and grooves on the surfaces of the devices forming the diverging portion of the a pass arranged to act on the workpiece and accelerate the flow of the surface metal thereof relatively to the bodily feed of the workpiece.

7. In an apparatus or mill for the treatment or production of a seamless metal tube, the combination of opposed rotary rolling devices, having working surfaces forming a pass which first converges from the inlet toward the outlet end and then diverges toward the exit, a plurality of spirally arranged ridges and grooves on the surfaces of the devices forming the walls of the converging part of the pass adapted to feed back or retard the flow of the surface metal of a thereof, a plurality of spirally arranged ridges and grooves on the surfaces of the rolling devices forming the walls of the diverging portion of the pass adapted to act on the workpiece to accelerate the flow of or feed forward the surface metal thereof relatively to'the bodily feed of'the workpiece,

' devices forming the walls of the converging part of the pass adapted to retard or feed backward the surface metal of a workpiece in opposition to the bodily feed thereof, a plurality of spirally disposed grooves and ridges disposed on the surfaces of the rolling devices forming the walls of the diverging part of the pass and adapted to accelerate the flow of the surface metal relatively to the bodily forward feed of theworkpiece, and initial gripping surfaces on the rolling devices. I

9. In an apparatus or mill for the treatment or manufacture of a weldless tube or billet, the combination with opposed rotary rolling devices furnished with working surfaces arranged and located to form a diverging pass, for a workpiece, a mandrel located in the pass, and a plurality of spirally ar ranged grooves and ridges on the working surfaces of the rolling devices for accelerating the forward feed of the surface metal of the workpiece relatively to the bodily forward feed of the workpiece.

10. In an apparatus or mill for the treatment or manufacture of a seamless metal tube or billet, the combination of opposed thereof relatively to the bodily feed of the workpiece.

11. In an apparatus or mill for the treatmentor manufacture of a seamless metal tube or billet, the combination with opposed rotary rolling devices having working surfaces arranged and located to form a pass which first converges and then diverges, of a plurality of retarding ridges and grooves arranged spirally on the surfaces of the devices forming the converging part of the pass, a plurality of accelerating ridges and grooves arranged spirally on the surfaces of the devices forming the diverging part of the pass, and a mandrel located in the pass between the rolling devices.

12-.In an apparatus or mill for the treatment or manufacture of a seamless metal tube or a billet, the combination with opposed rotary rolling devices having working surfaces arranged and located to form a diverging pass, of, a plurality of accelerating ridges and grooves arranged spirally on the working surfaces, and a mandrel located in the pass between the rolling devices.

' 13. In an apparatus or mill for the treatment or manufacture of a seamless metal tube or a billet, the combination with opposed rotary rolling devices, of a plurality of spirally arranged grooves and ridges on one part of each rolling device adapted to retard the flow of the surface metal of a workpiece in opposition to the normal feed thereof, and a plurality of spirally arranged ridges and grooves on another portion of the Working surfaces'adapted toaccelerate the flow or feed forward the surface metal or the workpiece relatively to the normal feed thereof, and a mandrel located in the pass between the rolling devices.

,In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM DICKS. Witnesses:

JAMES GILFILLAN, WILLIAM MGANINCH. 

